Alexander Mitchell (politician)

Alexander Mitchell ( born October 18, 1817 in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, † April 19, 1887 in New York City ) was an American politician. Between 1871 and 1875 he represented the state of Wisconsin in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Career

Alexander Mitchell grew up in his native Scotland, where he attended the public schools. He also attended a trade school and studied law. Later he became a bank clerk. In 1839 he emigrated to the United States where he settled in Milwaukee. He was active in the banking and railroad industry in his new home. He soon became one of the wealthiest citizens of Wisconsin. Between 1864 and 1887, including during his time as a congressman, he was president of the Railway Company Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.

Politically, Mitchell was a member of the Democratic Party. In 1868 he ran unsuccessfully for Congress yet. In the congressional elections of 1870, he was then in the first electoral district of Wisconsin in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC chosen, where he became the successor of the Republican Halbert E. Paine on March 4, 1871. After a re-election in 1872 in the fourth district, he was able to complete in Congress until March 3, 1875 two legislative sessions. In the fourth district, he was the successor of Charles A. Eldredge.

In 1874, Mitchell gave up another candidacy. In 1877 he refused to him being transferred candidacy for the office of governor of Wisconsin. In the following years, Mitchell continued his successful business career. He died on April 19, 1887 during a visit to New York. Alexander Mitchell was the father of John L. Mitchell (1842-1904), who represented 1891-1898 the state of Wisconsin in both houses of Congress.